The Kaituna River level is controlled by the Okere Falls control Structure, This is the start of the Kayaking section of the river.
The first 200m is a nice slalom course with wires and gates set all year round with good constant water flows this section is used by NZ kayakers and International paddlers all year round as a trainning ground.
The run starts at the slalom course below the control gates and winds its way into a bush-fringed gorge. At the concrete portal of the old Okere falls power station the river splits, most take the right over the 2.5-meter Ho-ho Falls and down through the Weir.

Tutea Falls, when you get to it, is obvious. From the cliff bound eddy above the horizon drops away, but a well-timed launch hard right gives a clean landing and almost dry face. Many, however, crash down the middle and take whatever happens. It is worth taking this waterfall seriously (at least the landing part). Plenty of people carry scars from being pushed onto the bottom of the river, grazing faces, breaking noses and paddles.

There are seven more Class III drops below the falls (it is possible to carry your boat down Hinemoa’s steps and put in below the falls if you wish) including Skateboard Ramp, Boiling Pot, and The Abyss. The final drop at the take out is the well known “Bottom Hole” and is a true park ‘n’ play heaven and during the summer locals have a once a week session with sound system and BBQ. Many international paddlers use it as an off-season training spot. Below the play hole is Trout Pool Falls. This has claimed a couple of lives and broken ankles, but has also been run on occasions – be warned.

Access is a constantly changing issue. Please check in with local operators if you are unsure of any changes to access points. Don’t go off the trails and use amenities for toileting.

Flows are read off the control gates at the put-in. Each of the gates is numbered in divisions of 100 (equal to 3 cumecs) therefore 3 gates at 300 equals 27 cumecs. Rafting companies operate between 200-500. Below 200 kayaks can hit the bottom of the falls hard. Above 500 is good and anything above 1000 is fast and pushy. It has been kayaked with fully open gates above 1300. Check with Sunspots Kayak Shop (07) 3624222 during business hours for flows, as it is not automated.

To get to the put-in: find the small settlement of Okere Falls about 21km north of Rotorua on SH33. Put in anywhere at the slalom site or on the river right side of the control gates. The fenced in area on river left above the control gates is private property, park outside the fence, off the road along the highway.

To get to the take out: drive 1.2km down the road opposite the put in car park, signposted Trout Pool Rd, Okere Falls. There are toilets at he middle carpark if you need to go before you get on. Park at road end. Make sure your car is locked and all valuables removed or well hidden.


AWESOME and GNARLY GORGEs
There is an awesome gorge run on the lower Kaituna - surprisingly enough - called Awesome Gorge! It starts out from the Trout Pool falls as a meandering stream and then slowly picks up pace through a few class I-II rapids that give you a good taste of what is to come. The river backs off slightly at an open area that commercial sledgers use as a take out. Look for the tyre steps and the farm just past the pylons.  Beyond this it picks up pace as the gorge narrows. The corners get tighter and suddenly, like your sphincter, the gorge tightens right up and you're into a 300m section of continuous class III white water. There are no eddies. Once you exit the fast paced section you round a couple more corners before Awesome Gorge Falls. This is a 3metre blind drop - run it just off river left with a good boof over the hole at the bottom - hopefully.

About seven more corners of fast moving grade III water and you are at the take out. Look for the bright orange paint. You do not want to miss this. It is on a sharp Left Hand Bend.
Take out on the right. DO NOT MISS THIS TAKE OUT!
Shuttle: Walk back over farm tracks- see hot tip.
Character: A bit like what would happen if they trippled the flow, halved the width and added 100m high gorge walls to a theme park water ride.
Hot Tip: Take a sea kayak portage trolley to wheel your boats back along the portage.

Below Awesome Gorge take out you are immediately into the meat of Gnarly Gorge which is a continuation of Awesome Gorge style of paddling but much narrower, steeper and faster with hidden trees and more waterfalls. You MUST seek quality local beta before you try this one.

Paddlers have been regularly portaging the “Gnarly Gorge” section using the track on river right through the pine forest. It is about a 20 min walk downstream to the next pool. Be aware the river right, is all private land and it is up to the individual to get permission for access. River left for most of the length of “Awesome and Gnarly” is “Scenic Reserve” but there are very few tracks.
From the pool below Gnarly the river eases to a class III – IV. Known as the “Smokey Falls” section the gradient is less but it is still narrow and fast with high risk of trees. Scouting or portaging is impossible due to the high cliffs. The last gorge below ‘Smokey Falls’ has been accessible for a number of years from the Ash farm on Mungarangi Rd. this is a class II-III paddle out to the flat water. The best take out is the road bridge on Maungarangi Rd.